Wiki Internal Medicine

[ella.starr]

I have been coding cpt 88142 with dx 616.10 when this is performed on the same day as a routine well adult exam. The claim gets denied and I'm wodering if a V72.31 should be used instead. Can two V codes be used, since I already use V70.0.

 

[mitchellde]

88142 is a lab/path code to be used by the lab you send your specimen to. Yes you can use 2 V codes, the V70.0 is first listed only and the V72.31 is first or secondary. But why are you using the 616.10 dx code? Is this documented as this is what the patient has or is it truely a well woman check. 88142 is not a code for a pelvic exam. Nor is it for your physician to prepare your slides this code is for the lab when they take your slides and then prepare and screen their slides for interpretation. If this is a well encounter you should be using a preventive E&M code.